Bob Keeshan, the actor who played Captain Kangaroo on the classic children's television show of the same name, has died.

Keeshan died in Queeche, Vt., according to his family. He was 76.

Keeshan's family said in a statement that he died of a long illness.

Also produced by Keeshan, "Captain Kangaroo" was a program staple on CBS for nearly 30 years, running weekday mornings from 1955 to 1984.

Keeshan began his long run as Captain Kangaroo on Oct. 3, 1955. The show won six Emmy Awards, three Gabriel Awards and three Peabody Awards.

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Bob 'Captain Kangaroo' Keeshan: 1927-2004

The show revolved around the grandfatherly Captain Kangaroo, whose name was inspired by the kangaroo pouch-like pockets of thecoat Keeshan wore.

Keeshan said he chose an elderly character because he liked the "potential positive relationship between grandparents andgrandchildren."

He often visited with puppet animals on the show, like Bunny Rabbit (Cosmo Allegretti), whose jokes usually ended with Captain Kangaroo being pummeled with ping-pong balls. Another character often featured on the show was Mr. Green Jeans (Hugh Brannum).

Keeshan first rose to prominence playing the silent Clarabell the Clown on NBC's "The Puppet Playhouse" (aka "The Howdy Doody Show") from 1947 to 1953, opposite the late "Buffalo" Bob Smith. The role was a promotion of sorts, as Keeshan started at NBC in high school as a page.

Robert James Keeshan was born in Lynbrook, Long Island, N.Y., on June 27, 1927. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps before he began his television career.

According to the Internet Movie Database, Keeshan also worked on "Time For Fun" / "The Johnny Jellybean Show" at New York's ABC affiliate from 1953 to 1955 before starting his run as Captain Kangaroo.

After "Captain Kangaroo," ended in 1984, Keeshan hosted the children's show "CBS Story Break" for one year in 1985.

Keeshan, who moved to Vermont in 1990. He became active as a children's advocate, writing books, lecturing and lobbying onbehalf of children's issues.

Keeshan's wife, Jeanne, died in 1990. He had three children.